Category Archives: Florida Beach Royalty Tour

The Florida Beaches Royalty Tour – April 2013

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We decided to stay close this month due to the overwhelming amount of “busy”
we’ve experienced throughout April. So this month’s stop on the Florida Beaches Royalty Tour is the very close and really relaxing Lover’s Key State Park.

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We’ve been coming to Lover’s Key for many years now. It’s a bit more laid back and family oriented than say Fort Myers Beach or even Sanibel Island. The water is much calmer, the sand is sugary and almost white and the atmosphere oozes “relax”. You’ll see dolphins, manatees and birds of all kinds. Lots of fishing, lots of boating and jet-skiing, camping and lots of bicycling. The water isn’t particularly clear, but the atmosphere makes up for it.

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The story of Lover’s Key is that it received its name due to the fact that it was only available by boat and only lovers would make the journey to the island. Even now, it certainly has that feel about it.

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It’s $2 per person to park and there’s no time limit to stay, other than the park hours of 8am to Sunset. Spend the day for two bucks? I’m in, bro.

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So how’s the shelling?

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Local shellers say that the beach is known for three shells in particular – Sunray Venus Clams, Rose Petal Tellins and Lightning Whelks. They are certainly there. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to take a bunch of pictures of our finds (and a couple we’d never found before), but I will get those up on the site as soon as I am able.

But much of what we found in the water was alive – Fighting Conchs, Lightning Whelks and Horse Conchs, primarily. Queenie took the time to place each and every live shell washed on shore back in the water.

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We were also able to find many of these white and brown Dwarf Olives, scattered among the Wentletraps, Worm Shells and various other Mini shells:

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But in my opinion, the wild life at Lover’s Key is what really steals the show.

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This poor little White Egret had a hook in his wing. I tried to coax him to come near so I could remove it, but he was a bit too skittish.

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and this relaxed Pufferfish just swam into my scoop.

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He sat quietly while the Queen snapped his picture.

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The Fighting Conchs were in abundance, many filled with angry Hermit Crabs.

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Lover’s Key Beach really is a wonderful place to chill, relax and enjoy the beach. With so much to do there at the park, and for only $2 it’s certainly worth the stop. So make a plan one Saturday or Sunday and make Lover’s Key State Park a destination.

A day at the Aquarium

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IMG_1700wmAfter our slightly disappointing visit to Treasure Island this past weekend (due to the weather), Queenie mentioned that she’d always wanted to visit the Florida Aquarium. So away we went!

If you enjoy marine life and haven’t visited the Florida Aquarium, it’s a must. The $21.95 price tag for admission is just slightly steep, but the exhibits are really cool and worth seeing.

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The journey begins upstairs, where the exhibits consist of various fish found in the Florida gulf waters and creatures that inhabit the wetlands. You’ll find common fish like Snook , Redfish and Stingrays as well as local snakes like Rat Snakes and two 14 foot Burmese Pythons. The Queen wouldn’t approach the glass.

Read more about the new Pythons here:
Florida Aquarium adds invasive pythons to wetlands exhibit (tbo.com)

There’s an otter exhibit, ducks that you can reach out and pet and a couple of tanks with these scary looking Gar Fish:

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This guy sat at the surface of the open exhibit. Had I dipped my fingers in the water, I surely would have lost one.

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The Coral Reef exhibit is one of the best, with fish I’d never seen before . They have a Goliath Grouper that is easily 300 pounds.

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Don’t forget to stop by the shark tank, where you’ll find Sand Tiger sharks, Blacktips and Bonnethead Sharks.

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Ol’ Crush sat in the corner looking sad. I don’t think he wanted to be bothered.

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We moved to a section called “Ocean Commotion”, where Sea Horses frolicked. Such cool creatures.

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And we must have stood there for ten minutes watching this Leafy Sea Dragon float peacefully through the water.

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and we spent another ten minutes in sheer awe at this Bait Ball. A 4 foot Blacktip Shark circled around it, waiting for the perfect time to speed through and grab a meal. Unfortunately for him, the fish were just too quick.

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So yes, take the time and visit the Florida Aquarium. You should be able to run through it in a couple of hours. Certainly worth the stop, and a great place to get an education about the stuff in our local waters and wetlands.